Dastard

FROM OUR EDITORS

Bookseller Reviews

Piers Anthony's deft hand makes his whimsical Xanth chronicles one of the few that is both hilarious and suspenseful. In The Dastard, the quite-aptly title character conspires to "unhappen" history. Close your eyes and, like a nitrous oxide picnic, It all goes away except the giggles.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Becka was a crossbreed - the daughter of Draco Dragon and a lovely human woman who met, by chance, at a Love Spring. Now fourteen, Becka was beginning to wonder where in Xanth she belonged - on the ground with her mother's people or flying the skies with her father's kind. So she journeyed to the Good Magician Humfrey to discover her True Purpose in life. Much to her astonishment and surprise, the Magician told her that a great Destiny awaited her - one that would affect the future of all Xanth." "To unravel the mystery of her Fate, Becka did as Humfrey bade her: traveling afoot to the statue of the dreaded Sea Hag to meet the man who would be waiting for her there, and offering him her assistance. But to her dismay, Becka discovered that the one who awaited her there was a dangerous, despicable libertine who called himself the Dastard." "Once a common country boy, the Dastard had sold his soul to a detestable demon in exchange for the power to erase events and rewrite history to suit his own devious ends. Lacking a conscience and filled with craven self-loathing, he roamed the width and breadth of Xanth in search of anyone happier than he was. Once he found them, he used his malevolent talent to "unhappen" their happiness, so that others could share in his misery." "Determined to honor her vow, but despairing of her ability to help this man and still preserve her virtue, Becka set out on a wide and perilous journey.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

From the densely populated imagination of Anthony (Xone of Contention) comes yet another pun and reader-suggestions-laden tale of Xanth. Many familiar characters make their appearance in this slowly unwinding yarn about the eponymous boy, self-named for his dastardly deeds, who undoes history in order to ruin the happiness of everyone he meets, and about the triplet princesses--Melody, Harmony and Rhythm--who are in the conspiracy to stop him. Along for the ride is the dragon/girl, Becka, who refuses to show the Dastard her panties. A poor introduction to Anthony's brand of fantasy, this novel will leave readers feeling as though they've just slogged through one of those deadly comic strips in which the puns come fast and furious and drive everyone mad. Only the staunchest fans--but there are many of these--will be moved to send in their suggestions for the next book. The assertion by minor characters in the book that "we hate Xanth... we detest puns... we're critics" may prove a self-fulfilling prophecy for all who shake their heads at a man reading a book who eats litter. He's "litter-ate." (Oct.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

VOYA

For Anthony, a plot is just a device on which to hang his outrageous puns and word play. One of many Xanth novels, this book features a scoundrel whose natural talent is having stupid ideas, so he trades his soul to a demon for a much better talent-the ability to make events "unhappen," or to change reality. Since the Dastard has no conscience, whenever he has the opportunity to thwart someone else's pleasure, he does so. This mischief threatens the safety of Xanth, so three princesses with magical powers and a young girl, who is also a dragon, are sent by the Good Magician to stop him. There is much adult humor here; the Dastard is a lecher who is always wanting to see some nubile young maiden's panties and "summon the stork" with her (have sex). Some of it is pretty funny (they meet a sex-crazed ogress named ViOgra, and panties with writing on them are news briefs), but it is hardly suitable for younger teens, even though there are no explicit sex scenes. After a while, the constant punning gets a little old. There are so many because Anthony solicited ideas from readers, and they responded with gusto. The author credits these readers in the back of the book. Fans of the Xanth series will enjoy this one, and newcomers will wonder what bizarre world they have stumbled into. VOYA CODES: 3Q 2P S A/YA (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2000, Tor, 303p. Ages 16 to Adult. Reviewer: Diane Yates VOYA, February 2001 (Vol. 23, No.6)

Library Journal